Many of us dream of exchanging our day-to-day responsibilities for a heartfelt life full of purpose, but few of us ever get around to doing something about it. The women featured in Dakini Powercontemporary teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, both Westerners and Asians, who teach in the Westare the exception. All twelve women followed their intuition against all odds, made dramatic and unusual decisions, and sometimes had to fight for their survival in order to lead the lives they envisioned. All were criticizedfor being too conservative or too rebellious, too feminist or not feminist enoughyet they pulled through with immense determination and bravery. Today all are recognized as accomplished practitioners and brilliant teachers.

What can we learn from these women? How do they handle the cultural differences? How do they deal with the more controversial aspects of Buddhism? The Westerners among them risked alienating their families and closest friends by immersing their lives in a completely foreign culture. Often, this necessitated radical life changes. What did they find on their journey? Was the price they paid worth it to them?

Dakini Power honors the lives and accomplishments of these female pioneers of Buddhism in the West, not least because they seem to have bridged gaps that many of us struggle with. Meeting them in this book, the reader will be inspired in the same way: to let go of old fears, explore new paths, and listen to one's inner voice with confidence.

Michaela Haas, PhD, is a reporter, lecturer, and media consultant who has been studying and practicing Buddhism for almost twenty years. She divides her time between Malibu, California, and Munich, Germany.

Contents: DAKINI POWER: Twelve Extraordinary Women Shaping the Transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the West by Michaela Haas